butsudan: A household family Buddhist altar.

Issei(s): First-generation Japanese immigrant in America.

kenjinkai: Association of people who came from the same prefecture.

Kibei(s): American-born person(s) of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.

kimono: A robe with wide sleeves and a sash, part of traditional costume of Japanese men and women.

mukyokai:Nondenominational church movement.

Nisei(s): American-born children of Japanese immigrants; second-generation Japanese Americans.

Sansei(s): American-born grandchildren of Japanese immigrants; third-generation Japanese Americans.

shikata ga nai: It can't be helped. There's nothing one can do.